Loom attachment.



Patented Apr. 25,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Attorn eys a. A. WAHLER & E. H. FRETZ.

LOOM ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE H, I915.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

3 SHEET3 SHEET 2' AT W T Witnesses M M, a Attorneys THE COLUMBIAPLANOGRAPH 00., WASHINGTON, D. c.

G. A. WAHLER & E. H. FRETZ.

\ LOOM ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE H, 1915. L1,S%5 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- Witnesses THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, D. c.

GUSTAVE A. WAHLER, OF SLATINGTON, AND EDMUND H. FRETZ, OF EIVIAUS,PENNSYL- VANIA.

LOOIVI ATTACHMENT.

Application filed June 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GUSTAVE A. WAHLER and EDMUND H. FRnTz, citizens ofthe United States, residing, respectively, at Slatington and Emaus, inthe county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Loom Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to looms, and relates more particularlyto shuttle changers.

It is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved loomattachment of such construction and operation, that a pair of shuttleboxes are arranged to be automatically shifted to position upon the layalternately, so that a pair of shuttles may be employed each having adifferent color of weft yarn therein, to provide a twocolor loom.

The present attachment is adapted to be applied to an ordinary silk orcotton loom, without the necessity of cutting off the lay, since theshuttle boxes are arranged to be alternately moved into position uponthe lay to cooperate with the picker stick, the shuttle boxes beingoperated from the head motion, in order that the timing of the shuttlebox changer will be in accord with the motion of the heddles.

The invention also resides in the unique means of applying the shuttleboxes to the lay, so that the shuttle boxes may be moved to operativeposition alternately, and the invention further includes novel means foroperating the shuttle boxes.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a shuttle boxchanging attachment for looms, which is comparatively simple andinexpensive in construction, which may be readily applied to variouslooms Without appreciable trouble or expense, and which will serve itsofiice in a thoroughly practical, serviceable and efficient manner.

With theforegoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Serial No. 33,565.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,'whereinFlgure l is an elevation of the attachment as applied to a loom,fragmental portlons only of the loom being illustrated to illustrate theconnection of the attachment wlth the respective portions of the loom,and this view being somewhat diagrammatlcal in nature. Fig. 2 is anenlarged frag-mental elevation, looking from the opposite slde, andillustrating the shuttle boxes. Fig. 3 is'an enlarged fragmental planview of the attachment, illustrating the shuttle boxes. Fig. 4; is anend view of the partsillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and Fig. 5 is avertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, fragmental portions only of the loom are illustrated,since the invention resides in the attachment only, and since the loomstructure is common and well known. The lay 1 has been illustrated, thesame being provided with the slot 2 in which the picker stick 3operates, and Fig. 1 also illustrates the two jacks 4L and 5 of the headmotion, for operating the heddles.

The attachment embodies a pair of shuttle boxes 6 and 7 and means formounting and operating the same, the shuttle box 6 being mounted forhorizontal or lateral movement onto and 01? of the lay 1, while theshuttle box 7 is mounted for vertical movement downwardly onto andupwardly off of the lay 1, so that the shuttle boxes will haveindependent motions to operative and inoperative positions. Each of theshuttle boxes has upper and lower longitudinal slots 8 for the receptionof the picker stick, and the outer end portions of the shuttle boxes 6and 7 have the respective arches or yokes 9 and 10 connecting theiroppositesides for bracing the shuttle boxes, said yokes 9 and 10accommodating the picker stick.

As a means for slidably supporting the shuttle box 6 for horizontal orlateral movement onto and elf of the lay 1, upstanding horizontal orlateral guides or arms 11 are secured to one side of the lay 1, that is,to the projecting terminal of the lay, and the guides 11 are providedwith upper longitudinal T-grooves 12. A laterally projecting flange 13is carried by the shuttle box 6 adjacent the bottom thereof, and boltsor similar elements 14 are engaged through the flange 13 and have theirheads working within the grooves 12, to guide the shuttle box 6 forsliding movement on the lay 1 and guides 11. The flange 13 projects toone side of the shuttle box 6, so as to continually bear upon the guides11, for holding the shuttle box down upon the lay or guides. Y

The means for mounting the vertically movable shuttle box 7 above thelay 1, embodies an arch or yoke 15 serving as a guide, and having theends of its limbs secured to the lay 1 adjacent that side opposite theguides 11. Clips or other suitable elements 16 are secured to therespective side of the shuttle box 7 and slidably embrace the limbs ofthe guide or arch 15, whereby the shuttle box 7 is guided for verticalsliding movement downwardly onto and upwardly ofl of the lay 1. Theshuttle boxes are thus mounted for interchangeable movement to operativeposition upon the lay 1, since when the shuttle box 7 is raised, theshuttle box 6 may be slid under the same onto the lay, and when theshuttle box 6 is moved laterally toone side of the lay, the shuttle box7 may be moved downwardly onto the lay.

The means for operating the shuttle box 6 embodies an outstanding arm orrod 17 attached upon the flange 13 and projecting in the same directionas the guides 11, the free end of the arm 17 having a downturned portion18 to which a chain or flexible element 19 is attached, said chainpassing over a pulley wheel or guide 20 carried by the lay 1 andextending downwardly from said pulley wheel. The chain or flexibleelement 21 has one end attached to the flange 13 of the shuttle box 6,and passes around a pulley wheel or guide 22 carried by an outstandingarm or bracket 23 attached to the lay 1 and projecting in the samedirection as the arm 17 adjacent said arm. From the pulley wheel 22, thechain 21 passes over a pulley wheel or guide 24 carried by the lay 1below the butt end of the bracket 23, and the chain 21 extendsdownwardly from the pulley wheel 24. The bracket 23 is preferablyprovided with a guide element 24 projecting from one side and slidablyreceiving the arm or rod 17, whereby the sliding movement of the shuttlebox 6 is steadied, to prevent the wabbling of the shuttle box 6, whichwould be liable to cause the same to stick or bind. v

The actuating means for the shuttle box 7, includes a vertical rod orstem 25 slidable through a guide member or bearing 26 attached to thatside of the lay 1 opposite the guides 11, and the upper end of the rod25 is bent angularly, as at 27, and is adjustably engaged or attached tothe respective side of the shuttle box 7, as at 28. The shuttle box 7may thus be adjusted vertically slightly relative to the rod 25, inorder that when the rod is moved downwardly,

the shuttle box 7 will properly seat upon the lay 1. A chain or flexibleelement 29 has one end attached to the lower end of the rod 25, and achain or flexible element 30 passes over a pulley wheel or guide 31carried by the lay 1 adjacent the rod 25, and the respective end of thechain 30 is attached to the lower end of the rod 25.

The chains 19, 21, 29 and 30 are operatively connected to the headmotion of the loom, whereby the shuttle boxes (3 and 7 are alternatelymoved to operative position. To this end, the chains 19, 21, 29 and 30pass under the respective pulley wheels or guides 32, 33, 341 and 35carried by a suitable support 36 attached to the loom frame, and therespective ends of the chains 21 and 29 are connected to one 'arm of abell crank or L- lever 37, while the respective ends of the chains 19and 30 are connected to one arm of a bell crank or L-lever 38. Theelbows of said levers 37 and 38 are fulcrumed to a suitable support orbracket 39 attached to the loom frame. Chains or flexible elements 40and 11 are connected to the other arms of the respective levers 37and.38, and pass over pulley wheels or guides 12 and 13, respectively,carried by the loom frame adj acent the jacks 4: and 5. The upper endsof the chains 40 and 11 are connected to the respective acks 1 and 5,whereby the movement of the jacks 1 and 5 will alternately lift thechains 40 and 4L1.

A coiled retractile spring 14: is interposed in the chain 21 between thelever 37 and pulley wheel 33, and a similar spring 15 is interposed inthe chain 30 between the lever 38 and pulley wheel 35, said springsbeing adapted to yield when the respective chains are pulled.

A shuttle 16 is carried by the shuttle box 6, while a shuttle 17 iscarried by the shuttle box 7, said shuttles carrying bobbins havingdifl'erent colors of weft yarns thereon as will be readily understoodwithout detailed description or illustration.

In operation, when the jack 5 is moved outwardly for lifting therespective heddle, the chain 11 will be drawn or pulled upward, to swingthe lever 38 upwardly, and this will pull the chains 19 and 30. Thechain 30 being pulled around the pulley wheel 30, will pull the rod 35upwardly, to raise the shuttle box 7 off of the lay 1, and the chain 19being pulled around the pulley wheel 20, will pull the downturned freeportion ofthe arm or stem 17 toward the lay 1, to force the shuttle box6 inwardly to operative position on the lay 1 under the shuttlebox 7.When the shuttle box 7 is moved upwardly, the rod or stem 25 being movedupwardly, will pull the chain 29, and the shuttle box 6 being movedinwardly, will pull the chain 21 around the pulley wheels 22 and 2 1, sothat the said chains 21 mamas and 29 will pull the lever 37 downwardlyand will render the chain 40 taut. Now, when the shuttle box 6 is movedto position upon the lay 1, the picker stick 3 being operated will ejectthe shuttle 46 from the shuttle box 6 across the lay 1, said shuttle 46being thrown back and forth the required number of times, and finallylodging within the shuttle box 6 when it is time to change the color ofweft. Now, the jack 4 is moved outwardly, while the jack 5 is movedinwardly to normal position, and as a result, the chain 40 will bepulled upwardly while the chain 41 will be slackened. The lever 37 isthus swung upwardly to pull the chains 21 and 29, for moving the boxes 6and 7 outwardly and downwardly. When the shuttle box 6 is movedoutwardly, the chain 19 will be pulled with the arm or stem 17, and therod 25 being moved downwardlywith the shuttle box 7, will pull the chain30, so that the said chains 19 and 30 being pulled with the shuttleboxes, will swing the lever 38 downwardly. Then the picker stick 3 isoperated, it will now eject the shuttle 47, and said shuttle may bethrown back and forth the required number of times, and finally willlodge within the shuttle box 7, when it is again time to change colors.The shuttle box 7 is then lifted, and replaced by the shuttle box 6, asabove indicated.

One chain of each pair is connected to one of the levers 3788, while theother chain of each pair is connected to the other lever, in order thatthe chains of each pair will be alternately pulled in oppositedirections for properly moving the shuttle boxes into and out ofoperative position. WVhen the lever 38 is swung to pull the chain 30,the spring 45 may yield, so that the shuttle box 7 may be yieldablyraised, giving the picker stick 3 sufiicient opportunity to leave theshuttle box 7, before the shuttle box 7 is raised, so that the shuttle47 will be properly received by the shuttle box 7 before said box israised. Likewise, the spring 45 is yieldable when the lever 37 isoperated for pulling the chain 21, in order that the shuttle box 6 willbe yieldably retracted, to give the picker stick 3 sufiicientopportunity to leave the shuttle box 6 before the said shuttle box ismoved out of operative position, and at the same time, the shuttle 46will be properly received by the shuttle box 6 to be carried out ofposition therewith.

The various parts of the attachment may be readily applied to therespective portions of the loom, whereby the attachment will work inharmony with the loom, the present attachment being adapted to readilyconvert the loom into a two-color loom. The other advantages andattributes of the present invention will no doubt be obvious to thoseskilled in the art, without further co1nment being necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with the lay of a loom, of a pair of shuttle boxes,means for guiding one shuttle box for lateral movement onto and oft ofthe lay, means for guiding the other shuttle box for vertical movementdownwardly onto and upwardly of]? of the lay, and means for alternatelymoving the shuttle boxes onto the lay.

2. The combination with the lay of a loom, of an outstanding horizontalguide carried thereby, an upstanding guide carried by the lay, a shuttlebox carried by each guide movable onto and off of the lay, and means foralternately moving the shuttle boxes onto the lay.

3. The combination with the head motion and lay of a loom, of a pair ofshuttle boxes, means for guiding them for movement onto and oif of thelay, and a pair of chains operatively connecting each shuttle box andthe head motion, one to pull the shuttle box onto and the other to pullthe shuttle box off of the lay, whereby the shuttle boxes arealternately moved onto the lay.

4. The combination with the head motion and lay of a loom, of a pair ofshuttle boxes, means for guiding one shuttle box for lateral movementonto and off .of the lay, and means for guiding the other shuttle boxfor vertical movement downwardly onto and upwardly 06 of the lay, and apair of flexible elements operatively connecting each shuttle box andthe head motion, whereby the shuttle boxes are alternately moved ontothe lay.

5. The combination with the head motion and lay of a loom, of anoutstanding horizontal guide carried by one side of the lay, anupstanding guide carried by the lay, a shuttle box carried by each guidefor movement onto and off of the lay, and a pair of flexible elementsoperatively connecting each shuttle box and the head motion, whereby theshuttle boxes are alternately moved onto the lay.

6. The combination with the head motion and lay of a loom, of guidescarried by the lay, shuttle boxes movable along the guides onto and oftof the lay, and a pair of flexible elements operatively connecting eachshuttle box and the head motion, one to pull the shuttle box onto andthe other to pull the shuttle box off of the lay, whereby the shuttleboxes are alternately moved onto the lay.

7. The. combination with a pair of jacks and the lay of a loom, of apair of shuttle boxes, means for guiding them for movement onto and oilof the lay, a pair of levers operatively connected to the respectivejacks, and a pair of flexible elements operatively connected to eachshuttle box, one flexible element of each pair being connected to one ofsaid levers and the other being connected to the other lever, wherebywhen the jacks are operated, the shuttle boxes are alternately movedonto the lay.

8. The combination with the lay of a loom, of an outstanding guidecarried by the lay, a shuttle box carried by said guide for movementonto and off of the lay, an outstanding arm carried by the shuttle box,a

guide carried by the lay, a flexible element attached to said arm andpassing over said guide, an outstanding bracket carried by the lay, aguide carried by the last mentioned bracket, a flexible element attachedto the shuttle box and passed over the last mentioned guide, and meansalternately pulling said flexible elements to move the shuttle box ontoand off of the lay.

9. The combination with the lay of a loom, of an upstanding guidecarried thereby, a shuttle box movable along said guide onto and oil ofthe lay, a vertical rod having its upper end attached to said shuttlebox, a flexible element attached to said rod, a guide carried by thelay, a second flexible element passed over said guide and attached tosaid rod, and means for alternately pulling said flexible elements forraising and lowering the shuttle box.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVE A. VVAHLER. EDMUND H. FRETZ. Htnesses THOMAS S. WALTER, MELVINF. BITTING.

copies of this patent inay be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of latents Washington, D. G.

